Tampa Bay Export SurveyPinellas County Economic Development is collaborating with the Tampa Bay Partnership and the Brookings Institution to develop an export plan for our eight-county region. Export development is a critical path to both business and community prosperity. We need the help of the business community to help the research effort better understand the current level of exporting from Pinellas County and the region. It is important that the survey respondents include exporters and non-exporters, goods makers and service providers alike. Your individual responses will be kept confidential. Please visit www.GlobalTampaBay.com to complete the export survey.

BioFlorida Tampa Bay Chapter Holiday Event, December 4, 2012, will be at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

Moffitt Cancer Center’s 7th Annual Business of Biotech, February 11, will develop the concept of, “Partnering for Success.”

Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) Florida, March 6-7, in Orlando, is known as the medical device industry’s trusted resource for project acceleration.

BioFlorida 2013, September 15-17, is at the Tampa Marriott Waterside this year and will focus on advancing the business of life sciences.

Find links to learn more about these events and information about growing your medical technology business in the Ideal Business Climate, Pinellas County at: http://www.pced.org/medtech, or call Andrea Falvey at (727) 464-7489. Pinellas County Economic Development can offer access to training and job creation incentives and help you find sites in Pinellas to expand your medical technology operations.

WorkNet Pinellas Announces the
Tampa Bay Hi-Tech Training (HITT) ProgramA partnership that includes St. Petersburg College, Hillsborough Community College, IBM and AT&T, this program provides paid tuition, books and fees for certification training in the information technology and telecommunications fields. For unemployed individuals interested in these fields, this program is an excellent opportunity to help cover the cost of training to earn the necessary certifications employers require, and receive job placement assistance within the information technology industry. Click here to learn more and apply for the HITT program through WorkNet Pinellas.

Concerned about transportation in Pinellas? Join the conversation at www.TellUsPinellas.comThe Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)is focused on improving transportation throughout the county and has kicked off an effort to create a 30-year blueprint for the entire county transportation system. Residents and commuters are encouraged to visit www.TellUsPinellas.com to help identify critical transportation issues and develop a list of needs in the community to help determine the right projects for the future of transportation in Pinellas.

Apply today to present at the Florida Venture Capital Conference, Jan. 31 – Feb. 1The Florida Venture Forum is calling for participants and sponsors representing all Florida industries interested in being presenters at this annual conference. Showcasing high-growth, private companies before an international audience of venture capitalists, private equity investors and investment bankers, the 2012 conference drew approximately 600 attendees. The application deadline is Dec. 14. Click here for more information.

Helping Veterans Transition to the WorkforceBoth Pinellas County and the team at WorkNet Pinellas are expanding their outreach efforts and services for veterans in our community. Through Pinellas County Veterans Services, vets can find links to vocational rehabilitation, education benefits, health care, home loans, survivor benefits and more. The team also specializes in personalized expert guidance in understanding benefits, filing and appealing claims. To find locations, learn more about these services or make an appointment visit www.pinellascounty.org/humanservices/veterans.

WorkNet Pinellas’ Veteran Services helps veterans with a job searches, career counseling, job training and more. Each of the WorkNet Pinellas One Stop Career Centers has a full time staff of Veteran Employment and Training Representatives who are dedicated to helping all qualified veterans reach their career goals. Additionally, the Transitioning Veterans Network (TVN) assists veterans in accelerating their career transition process. Please visit bit.ly/worknetvets to learn more.

Are you looking for new opportunities for your Pinellas business?Subscribe to our second monthly newsltter, Pinellas County Events Extra, to learn about bsuiness-focused events across the county. Listings include vendor and sponsor opportunities, informative and educational events, business recognition, and more. Subscribe to future issues at www.pced.org/subscribe. View the Dec. issue here.